RESULTS
The group means (± SEMs) obtained in the two sessions are given in Tables 1 and 2.

Oxygen consumption, breath volume
The paired t-test showed a 25.2% decrease in oxygen consumption after guided relaxation (p<.001). Breath amplitude increased by 15.0%, after guided relaxation (p<.01).

Autonomic measures and breath rate
The paired t-test showed significant differences during guided relaxation compared to the respective Before values for the following parameters, (i) skin conductance level reduced by 35.6%, (p<.05);

TABLE 1

Means and Standards error of the means (SEMs) of Oxygen Consumption and Breath volume before and after guided relaxation and supine rest (n = 25)
 

TABLE 2

(ii) heart rate reduced by 9.7%, (p<.001); (iii) low frequency component reduced by 15.5%, (p<.05), (iv) high frequency component increased by 9.8%, (p<.05). During supine rest compared to the preceding period significant changes occurred in: (i) skin conductance level reduced by 27.0%, (p<.01); (ii) heart rate decreased by 6.5%, (p<.01), also finger plethysmogram amplitude reduced by 25.8%, After supine rest compared to Before (p<.01). The Wilcoxon paired signed ranks test showed a significant decrease in the LF/HF ratio after guided relaxation, for subjects with baseline LF/HF >0.5 (Group I) (p<.05(1); n=9).